The recompense for Gheebah

Question

Sometimes you heard something from people about some one else which was bad and you did Gheebah even though you don't know that person. What is the ruling about it? How you can ask them for forgiveness even you don't have their contact numbers. Please guide me as simple as possible.

Answer

Respected Sister, Gheebah is such a sin that falls within Huqooqul Ibaad, when the rights of a fellow being are usurped. Hence it will be necessary to ask his/her forgiveness before one can be forgiven by Allah SWT. If that person has passed away or his whereabouts are not known, then we have been taught in a Hadith reported by Anas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'The recompense of Gheebah is to supplicate to Allah S.W.Ta'ala for one's own forgiveness and for that of the person whose Gheebah was made.' The Du'aa taught to us is, 'Allaahumma ighfir lanaa.' One should make sincere tawbah/repentance to Allah SWT for this sin. The requisites of taubah are three: (1) To immediately abstain from the sin. (2) To regret and wish one had never indulged in the sin. (3) To make a determined intention not to return to the sin. (Ruhul ma"ani Vol28 Pg235) One should also have hope in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah SWT. We hope that this answers your question. May Allah SWT guide us to the truth, Aamin.

And Allah knows best.

Ask Alimah Team

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